Harold first. Walked right up
When they asked him.
Unfolded each limb.

He drew up the earth
Into his haunches,
Carried that body up and

Lay down. Clarence too.
There was a heaving in the earth.
Body after body raised up.

There was a give in that earth.
And they came.
Lumbered up the levee’s

Flanks. Silent as stones.
Through the night,
They lay atop the levee.

Dreamed stony dreams.
In the night,
The levee built itself

Of eyes and teeth.
When sun came,
It sang.

__

[link]

I was reading up on Greenville MS, flood of 1927 and ran into this article in the Times. It took a moment to sink in, and then while driving (these sort of things always happen while I'm driving) I burst into tears. I've been writing around this 684 word article for the last two years.